Women regional studies and reports

During the months of November and December 2016 and the beginning of January 2017 the “Questionnaire for the Women Entrepreneurs Survey” was administered to 157 women (face-to-face interviews) in the seven MED countries of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia. Although the sample is small, it is meaningful for the policy recommendations formulated in the regional consolidated report, as many of the issues raised by the women interviewed are similar in all the surveyed countries. The questionnaire covers four main topics: business characteristics and performance; social assistance; main factors of success and challenges, and policy recommendations.

The survey is complemented by a series of country reports that describe the ecosystem and the policy framework that support women entrepreneurs in each country. The country reports explore the policy framework within which women entrepreneurs in this region operate or plan to operate, as well as identify initiatives supporting women entrepreneurship development. They also include the results of the surveys and interviews conducted in these countries. The survey helped with collecting empirical evidence on the impact of existing policies for women setting up businesses, to help improve existing policies in addition to providing a better understanding of the major challenges and obstacles that women face in initiating and developing their business. The reports identify key success and hindering factors as well as good practices that can serve as general guidelines to actual and potential women entrepreneurs in the country and the MED region. This in turn leads us to suggest recommendations for policy makers.

An evaluation of current policies and programmes implemented in Israel targeting disadvantaged women entrepreneurs, has been also produced by the Project, to identify lessons learnt and good practices that could be shared with neighbouring countries.

Finally, a regional consolidated report has been produced. It includes ithe analysis and consolidation of the results of the survey at regional level, identifies key success and hindering factors as well as good practices that can serve as general guidelines to actual and potential women entrepreneurs in the country and the MED region. This in turn leads us to suggest recommendations for policy makers.